Architecture

While envisioning the future has proven a rather elusive concept for as long as man has roamed the earth, creating it has ironically attested to be significantly more tangible. That is the beauty of architecture, and art in general: the mere ability to influence the course of the practice by way of originality and anomaly. Take, for example, Gabrielle Chanel’s introduction of an entirely novel female silhouette, which paved the way for a new chapter in the history of fashion. Architecture is no different, and one young designer has his hands full with the pursuit of architectural modernism. The Brazilian-borne Fred Mafra creates pieces that are fundamentally futuristic, often incorporating fragmented geometry to play with perceptions of space. In 2007, he was commissioned to design Belo Horizonte’s…

Founded in 2007, this Melborne-based architecture and design studio is dedicated to creating spaces that inspire, invigorate, surprise, and transform. Lead by principal architect Rodney Eggleston and creative director Anne-Laure Cavigneaux, the March Studio has designed innovative and pragmatic spaces for private clients, large businesses, and public domians. Their work for the Australian skin care brand, Aesop, has gained them international attention. TheDesignFiles.net writes, “Their work for Aesop, in particular, has a long history of material efficiency, often using surplus packaging or recycled materials en masse to stunning effect. As Aesop has expanded internationally, March Studio has been invited to work on their stores in Zurich, Paris and New York, and Eggleston has become adept at designing fittings and fixtures which efficiently minimise shipping and handling –…

Award-winning architecture firm, Divercity Architects, is based in both Athens, founded in 2004, and London, founded in 2008. They are a practice that offers all services in the architectural and design fields with experience in private residencies and housing complexes as well as hotels and commercial spaces. Their projects include a variety of ideas starting from the basic structure and concept to providing a fully, custom-furnished interior. Divercity Architects looks to take into consideration the specific needs and desires of the client in order to personalize the space and give it a unique, welcoming atmosphere. Their innovative designs are not only stylish but environmentally friendly. To view the award-winning Grace Santorini Hotel (pictured above) and more projects like it, click here.

When Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu founded their eponymous architectural practice in 2006 – Neri&Hu – they ensured that research would lie at the heart of each project. In order to create meaningful physical spaces, a careful investigation detailing the interaction of light, material, and form was in order. This design philosophy is based on Antoine de Saint Expéry’s allusion that “we don’t ask to be eternal beings, we only ask that things do not lose all their meaning.” With this at the forefront of their practice, the two graduates of Harvard and Princeton built a multi-cultural team speaking over 30 languages to ensure that their work would reflect a global perspective. However, their expertise encompasses more than just architecture; rather it is an interdisciplinary…

Born in Osaka, Japan, Akihisa Hirata graduated from Kyoto University in 1997 and in the same year began working at Toyo Ito & Associates. In 2005, he established his own namesake architectural office. His projects include residential areas and commercial properties. His design aesthetic incorporates modern and innovative styles to create a result that is unlike any other. Today, Akihisa Hirata is a specially-appointed associate professor at Tohoku University and a part-time lecturer at Kyoto University and Tokyo University. To see other projects by him, click here.

After receiving a degree in architecture from l´Ecole Spéciale d´Architecture de Paris, Guilhem Eustache had undetaken numerous design projects ranging from public spaces such a schools and day-care centers, to private residences. He has also worked with a Belgian film producer on a series of projects in Marrakech In an interview with Architecture News Plus Eustache says, “my projects are inscribed in the continuity of a tradition that responds to the demands of both the environment and society. Respecting the local context without succumbing to folklore, a quest for lasting simplicity.” His primary focus while deigning a space is improving the quality of life for those who are going to occupy the space. As he said to ANP, his architecture is about the space, not the object…

Japanese architect Hideyuki Nakayama is known for his innovative use of space and depth in residential projects such at the OHouse and Y House, as well as his creation of the glass globe doorknob. He was born in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, but moved to Tokyo to pursue his studies. In 1998 Nakayama graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, with a degree in Architecture and Planning Course, Faculty of Fine Arts . Two years later he completed his Master of Architecture and Planning Course at the same university. He went on to work at Toyo Ito & Associates and became a protégé of Ito, being put in charge of Ito’s Bruges Pavilion, Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre and Tama Art University Library and other projects. Then, in 2007…

After working in the office Shigeru Daiichi-Kobo Associates for 17 years, Japanese architect Shigeru Fuse founded his own architecture firm, Fuse-atelier, in 2003. The majority of the structures that he has designed are private residential homes. The style of Fuse’s design is minimalistic. Many of his homes are made from reinforced concrete with a few large glass windows that exposes some of the inner workings of the home to the outside. The interior of the homes are very sleek and modern, often using large panes of glass as walls, giving the home a very open and airy feel. The homes made of reinforce concrete, such as the house in Abiko, use the the exposed concrete for the interior walls of the house. This combined with clean white…

Founders and architects, Harry Bates and Paul Masi, started Bates Masi + Architects LLC, a full service architectural firm with roots in New York City and the East End of Long Island. The company has been operating for over 45 years and works on each project with extensive research in related architectural fields, material, craft, and environment in order to create a unique final product. They design a plethora of spaces ranging from residences to hotels and schools to retail, in both the urban and suburban setting. The goal of each project is to enrich lives while enhancing the environment around it as well as the experiences that come. Bates Masi Architects feel that it is important to pay attention to all perspectives of design,…

American architect and artist, Adam Kaklin, is widely known for utilizing industrial items and repurposing them into art, ranging from small instillations, to multi-unit building. He is most recognized in the architecture world for his use of industrial shipping containers which he forms into sleek and ultra-modern public buildings and private homes. In the “12 shipping containers” or “Adriance House” in northern Maine, Kalkin combined 12 large containers inside a larger structure to create a spacious and inovaitve 4-bedroom, 3 -bathroom home with a Library and playroom as well. This ability to transform pre-used industrial items into beautiful luxury spaces has gained the attention and admiration of many modern designers, prompting Kalkin to publish the book, Quick Build: Adam Kalkin’s ABC of Container Architecture. This book discusses not…

Founded in 2005 by Chilean architect, Antonio Zaninovic, this Cape-town based firm in dedicated to providing full architectural services for an international cliental. Their projects range from hotels and apartments buildings in Cabo San Luca, Mexico, to private residences in Chile and South Africa. The strategy of the design team is t0 design spaces that emphasis the local context, environment, landscape and climate of the areas in which they build. The primary goals of each of their design is to create a space that exists in balance with the delicate nature of the environments in which the building are set, while also ensuring that the space is eco-friendly and sustainable. This can be seen in the design of their eco-friendly spas and hotels in Lake…

Founded by Jamie Magén Pardo and Francisco J. Magén Pardo in 2002, Magén Arquitetecto is an architectural practice based in Zaragoza, Spain. Its professional activity is focused on the development of urban planning, restoration and interior design projects for both public and private clients. Their aim is to design spaces that that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and comfortable. Creating such a space requires a high degree of intensity and well as precision during the design process and a firm understanding of space, proportion, light, and materials. The Magén team has made it clear that one of their goals is to design spaces that are energy efficient and sustainable. On their website it states, “The incorporation of energy saving systems, and the…